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CAMMUS C5 Review — A Compact Direct-Drive Surprise

ByNeo Sphinx

Today we’re taking a deep dive into one of the most intriguing pieces of entry-level direct-drive hardware to hit the sim-racing scene: the CAMMUS C5.

Why so anticipated?
Because of the technology, the form-factor, and most of all — the price.
Let’s break down what makes this tiny powerhouse stand out.

🎨 Design & Form Factor

The C5 looks unlike anything else on the market.

CAMMUS essentially removed:

  • the driveshaft
  • the quick release
  • the button box

…leaving you with a motor that is the steering wheel.
This lowers moving mass, boosts responsiveness, and creates a distinctive, minimalist look.

Key design points:

  • 7 cm deep central motor housing
  • 28 cm D-shaped leather wheel
  • Carbon-fiber central plate
  • Slim, portable, extremely compact

It’s one of the smallest direct-drive units ever produced — and that alone makes it interesting.

🧱 Build Quality & Construction

While its design is unconventional, the C5 feels solid:

  • Leather-wrapped steering wheel (rare at this price)
  • Carbon fiber center disc
  • 12 generic buttons
  • D-pad
  • ABCD console buttons
  • Two high-quality rotary encoders (not too loose, not too stiff)
  • Retro-style speedometer + integrated rev-bar

The shifters are unusual:

  • 4 cm long
  • 1 cm wide
  • Plastic
  • Quiet and surprisingly precise during driving

Port layout on the back:

  • USB-B (PC connection)
  • Two USB-C ports (peripherals)
  • Reset + power buttons
  • 3-pin fan connector
  • PSU port

An external fan is included — and we’ll talk about why that matters later.

Edit: The weakness in this setup are the shifting paddles. Those seem to be very fragile. I never had an issue with it during testing but some users do report them breaking. CAMMUS does replace them under warranty.

🎛️ Pedals

The included pedal set is basic but sturdy:

  • Full steel construction
  • Hall-sensor measurement (accurate and reliable)
  • Stiff springs
  • Brake pedal wrapped tighter for extra resistance
  • Compact, lightweight base
  • USB-C PC compatibility (rare for entry-level pedals)

There’s also an RJ port on the pedal base, offering a second connection option.

While functional, the pedals don’t match the innovation of the wheelbase — more on that later.

📦 What’s in the Box?

CAMMUS includes:

  • Steel mounting beams for rig installation
  • Two colorful rotary-label stickers (a surprisingly delightful touch)
  • Optional external cooling fan
  • USB-C cables
  • Pedal set (if you buy the full bundle)

Small details, but they add to the charm and user-friendliness.

🏎️ Driving Experience

I jumped into ACC with the C5 set at 90% power, and within moments, the experience was intense.

What stands out:

  • Strong force output — feels above the typical 5Nm class
  • Fast, crisp corner response
  • High detail levels for road texture and car behavior
  • Instant recentering
  • Refined steering feel
  • Leather wheel gives solid grip
  • Shifters feel snappy and precise despite their small size

I typically want more than 5Nm from a wheelbase — but the C5 didn’t leave me wishing for more.

In BeamNG:

  • Again, excellent detail
  • Very quick steering response
  • High immersion, especially in surface transitions

The C5 drives exceptionally well for its size and price.

🌡️ Heat Management

Here’s the main drawback:

The C5 gets hot during longer sessions, especially at high FFB strength.

There is no internal active cooling — hence the included external fan.
But the fan can only mount to the optional desk clamp, not directly to the wheelbase.

Heavy users should be aware of this.

Edit: There has been a software tweak that makes it heat up less and adds a temperature limit to where it will dampen the forces if it is reached.

🦶 Pedal Performance in Practice

While the wheelbase impressed, the pedals leave room for improvement.

Issues:

  • Brake and accelerator feel almost identical
  • Lack of damping/foam makes braking less progressive
  • Small pedal arms and small pedal faces
  • Overall feel is functional but not exceptional

Upgrades or accessories could easily fix this — and CAMMUS would be wise to provide them.

🖥️ Software

CAMMUS’ software has improved significantly.

Not as advanced as MOZA’s Pit House, but:

  • Clean
  • Stable
  • Easy to configure
  • Fast to set up
  • Easy to fine-tune for ACC and BeamNG

User-friendly overall.

💶 Price & Availability

Pricing (approximate):

  • Full bundle (wheel + base + pedals): 300 USD
  • Wheelbase alone: 250 USD
  • Desk clamp: 29 USD

Shipping from China adds:

  • 80–100€ transport
  • ~20% VAT
    → which can push it close to Fanatec pricing.

However, CAMMUS is opening overseas warehouses:

  • France (already active)
  • UK
  • Others coming

This lowers cost dramatically and makes the C5 far more competitive.

📝 Conclusion

The CAMMUS C5 surprised me in many ways.

What it does extremely well:

  • Outstanding driving feel
  • Strong torque for its class
  • Great detail and precision
  • Ultra-compact form factor
  • Leather wheel, carbon fiber plate
  • Smart, original design
  • Affordable pricing
  • Good software experience

What holds it back:

  • No console compatibility
  • Pedals are basic and lack progression
  • Wheelbase heats up noticeably
  • External fan mounting is limited

Final thoughts:

For its size, price, and driving performance, the CAMMUS C5 is one of the best entry-level wheelbases available today.
It reminds me of Logitech’s simplicity, but with direct-drive strength and modern engineering.

For beginners looking for a compact, powerful, and affordable base — this is an excellent choice.

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